The Health Minister has officially opened the Carrickmacross Primary Care Centre.
Speaking at the opening, Minister Stephen Donnelly said it is "an excellent example of the provision of a range of health services from a single integrated, modern facility".
The new Primary Care Centre, which has been operational since mid-April, accommodates a range of services including GP services, dentistry, physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, social work, as well as adult mental health services.
The Centre is also used by the Monaghan Children's Disability Network Team to provide local services.
But first, our reporter spoke to PJ O'Hanlon, who is the Cathaoirleach of the Castleblayney-Carrickmacross MD.
Speaking to our reporter, Diarmuid Pepper, Cllr O'Hanlon said today was a great news day for the area, but also presented an opportunity to raise local issues with the Minister (Click on the above image to listen to this audio):
Cllr PJ O'Hanlon said there would be an opportunity to raise local issues with the Minister, and the Carrickmacross Group Practice has also sought to raise the need for more GPs to Minister Donnelly.
In a letter posted on social media recently, the Carrickmacross Group Practice "warmly welcomed the opening of the town's new Primary Care Centre" but criticised a lack of GPs to service the "needs of an older and more culturally diverse population".
The letter noted that the "town has an identical number of GPs now, as it had at the turn of the century, despite these ever changing demographics".
Minister Donnelly was asked about this letter at the opening this morning, which also address claims of staff and colleagues being abused for a situation they say is outside of their control:
Elsewhere, Sinn Féin Councillor Sean Conlon presented the Health Minister with a letter imploring him to extend the opening hours of the Monaghan Minor Injury Unit, which operates 9-5, Monday to Friday.
He spoke about the contents of that letter to our reporter:
And the current Health Minister was joined by former Health Minister and GP, Rory O'Hanlon.
He served as Health Minister between 1987 and 1991 and served as a TD for Cavan -Monaghan for over 30 years.
He was also a GP in Carrickmacross and spoke to our reporter, Diarmuid Pepper, about the changes there's been in health care since his time as a local GP:
